I want an ARB bumper...should I?

It only adds 130lbs net weight on the front of the truck. I posted how much (little in reality) the front dropped with a stock suspension on spacers.

 

885's

 

Tacoma vs deer resulted in:

Told my bodyshop to order me an ARB and that order was put in today. Will post pics once it’s all put together and my sweet babygirl is roadworthy again.
I live in a part of the country where deer are heavily populated and I never want to deal with this shit again.

 

I have two. Get you one.

 

After 3 deer in 2 years I got sick of it. Haven’t had another run in since it went on.

 

Had a buddy in a 1st gen hit a deer with one on, replaced the crush cans and one headlight. Hit was at 55 mph. That sold me. Bumper was ready to go again.

 

where's the best place to get a deal on an ARB?

 

If you buy new find one with free shipping 4WP (4 wheel parts) or they can be picked up for $800ish used on FB/Craigslist

 

Questions for you guys

Anyone got a used ARB for sale near SoCal?

Thinking of getting one. That being said, just sold my floor jack thinking I won't need it any more. I mean, the truck is high enough to crawl under for oil changes, and Costco is cheap enough for rotate and balance, like $20.

Don't know if that was the right move. ARB front bumper, I think can be installed truck on ground.
BUT, I will have to figure out how much of a pain it's gonna be, to swap my stock 6112 struts to heavy duty spring, or how bad it even needs that for ARB



Main question: How bad does this thing fuck up your MPG and acceleration?
It adds weight and aerodynamic resistance

I'm not asking because I care. It's not a Prius. My trips are mostly short in town.

I ask because I've already fucked up my MPG enough and am nearing the point of a regear looking appealing. It just sucks how expensive it is.
I think at this point the truck would honestly benefit from any regear, no matter what ratio.
4.10 (I have spare parts for that) - truck is 3.73
4.30, unlikely, that's FJ Cruiser parts
4.56 or 4.88, more likely, common offering among shops
Which, either is likely better, to prepare if planning on weight and bigger tires
Kind of have weight, may add more

Current weight adders are: 200lb shell, sliders, some skids, HC rear, Load E 10-ply A/T's tall skinny 33"
I thought about selling the 33" (great shape) but doubt I'll get jack shit for them, so might as well run it til they wear.
Low and behold, 315/70r17 (35") is even more expensive than 33, little did I know.
I think it's like $350 a tire, vs $250

The point is.
When you add that ARB bumper, is there a minimal difference? To where maybe you postpone regear to a later date?
Or does the truck suddenly feel like "Fuck I need a regear yesterday" and kind of make things have to be done at the same time

No other vehicle has served me as well as this truck. Nor kept it's value let alone appreciated.
I'd love to make it last 500,000 like the 80's/90's Yota guys.
I think the only way to actually do that is with front bumper protection given how shitty people drive around here. I've already got protection on the other sides which was easy enough; for example scored a deal on sliders for about $300.
It would really suck to put I don't know how many man hours into the truck, maintenance, taking care of it
for someone else to come along hit the front and total it

I've been looking into all the full hoops protection bumpers
ATHfab, Coastal, C4, BAMF, etc.
And ARB seems like a great option. Why?
-quick ship, not 10-14wk wait time
-minimal or no fab welding
-somewhat keeps it's value if reselling at a later date to switch bumpers
-still can mount shit to it
-yes it juts out more than others but how important is that
-at least you have protection in the meantime, if you order a Coastal kit and have someone weld that for idk how much labor, as well as time
-unlike Coastal, it's ready to go. Already powdercoated
-competitive price, occasional sales
-still probably better clearance than stock, and with 3.73 no lockers 33's my truck can't even reach spots insane enough to need more, let alone often

 

Say you've got an 05-11
and find a used 12-15
(two different models)

Do they fit interchangeably?
I've heard post-facelift (12-15) can bolt up to 05-11 but just with a bigger fender gap or something

 

How did you do this awesome color-match on the ARB?

 

Why don’t people outside of Australia add removable fender bars like what they have?

I imagine terrain here is just as rough if not more

 

The 05–11 model are roughly $400 less new than the 12-15, fit better and look better too. not saying the 12-15 is a bad buy, I have one on my 13 and for all I know the new design is an overall better one regarding impact management and so forth. That being said, go with a new or used 05-11 model. Just my two cents.
To answer your question. I know some extra trimming has to be done to fit the 05/11 on a 12-15 so it’s safe to say you’ll have to finagle some things to fit a 12-15 model on a 05-11 taco, and it’s also possible it won’t fit at all.
I wouldn’t risk it unless someone chimes in who has actually done it. We do know for a fact 05-11 model fits the 12-15 taco, not so sure about flipping it…

 

I believe it’s becoming somewhat common practice on US 3rd Gen taco ARBs.

 

This makes me wonder what the point even is of people doing conversions on front end to facelift lol

 

I have installed a couple ARB's for others and have formed the opinion that I would never have one. Heavy, crappy to put together (poor/outdated pics and lots of pieces), crappy to install (neither install lined up quite right with the factory frame mount holes, lots of tweaking to get it close to lining up). These do not feel like they are actually heavy duty. The ones I installed have crush/crumple zones, no joke. The winch mounting did not seem very heavy duty either. Protrude alot from the truck too. If you like the LOOK go for it. If you want to consider price vs quality vs HD consider otherwise.

 

ARB bumpers are designed to take on a kangaroo at relative high speeds with little to minimum damage to the front end. There are numerous crash test videos by ARB showing mock obstacles being hit at 55 mph leaving little to no damage to the vehicle front end. Lots of TW members who’ve hit deer at high speeds and have no damage to their trucks. I think the quality is there as well as well as being the best in the biz regarding front end protection. That being said I agree with you on the installation, shit instructions and there are most certainly better looking bumpers out there. Question is, how will a C4 custom do against a large Buck? I wouldn’t bet on one to protect my front end.

 

The 05-11 model conversion makes sense for the 12-15 tacos, given the fact it simply looks better, putting a 12-15 model on a 05-11 doesn’t make much sense at all imo. Unless of course someone gives you one for free or the deal is too good to pass up. Would have to be one hell of a deal though. I mean it’s a permanent fixture on your truck.

 

That’s what I mean 05-11 to 12-15 only for the bumper to get ripped off for steel anyway and the headlights still being incandescent but if anything with less reflective surface area

 

Got ya